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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 






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LUTHER : 

A SONG-TRIBUTE. 



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1483. 



1883- 



LUTHER: 

A SONG-TRIBUTE, 

ON THE 

FOUR-HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF 
HIS BIRTH. 



BY 









V 



REV. MATTHIAS SHEELEIGH, A. M. 



PUBLISHED FOR LUTHER D. AND MATTHIAS M., 
THE AUTHOR'S SONS. 




of washiN<5Sj 



PHILADELPHIA: 

LUTHERAN PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 

1883. 






Copyright, 1883, 
BY L. D. & M. M. SHEELEIGH. 



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7. 



4, 



TO ALL. 



IN ALL LANDS, THE WORLD OVER, 

WHO THANK THE LORD FOR THE LIFE AND LABORS OF HIS SERVANT, 

DR. MARTIN LUTHER. 
HUMBLY, . 

THE AUTHOR. 



^IS 3 - 




LUTHER LIFTING THE BUSHEL FROM THE CANDLE. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

MEMORIAL MEASURES . : 9 

Dr. Martin Luther's 400th Birth- Year 11 

Luther : Five Sonnets 13 

Luther's Birthday 18 

Luther and Madame Cotta 20 

Luther Arrested by the Lightning : A Sonnet 23 

Luther Enters the Monastery at Erfurt 24 

Luther Finds the Bible 26 

Luther Ordained 28 

Luther Called to Wittenberg University 30 

Luther Visits Rome 32 

Anniversary of the Reformation : A Sonnet 33 

Luther Burns the Pope's Bull of Excommunication ... 34 

Luther Before the Diet at Worms 35 

Luther Carried to Wartburg Castle 37 

Luther Left Wartburg Castle 39 

Luther's Marriage 40 

Luther Preparing the Catechism 42 

On Luther's Great Hymn, God a Mighty Tower .... 44 

Luther's Last Sermon at Wittenberg 45 

Luther at Mansfeld 46 

Luther's Death 47 

Luther : A Sonnet 49 

Seventh Semi-Centennial of the Reformation : A Sonnet. 50 

The New Protest : A Sonnet 51 

The Wittenberg Celebration 52 

• ( vii ) 



vm CONTENTS. 

PAGS. 

The Reformation Dawn 54 

May I not be a Lutheran ? 56 

Daily Working 60 

HYMNIC NUMBERS 61 

Reformation Hymn 63 

Praise for the Reformation 66 

Quatre-Centenary Hymn, in 2 Parts 68 

The Year of Jubilee 70 

A Call to Praise '. 71 

Rejoicing of the Children 73 

The Reformation and America 75 

Our Jubilee 77 

God's Hand in the Reformation 79 

The Bible is Found 81 

The Church Restored and Preserved 82 

Justification by Faith Restored 84 

" Work on Earth, and Rest in Heaven." 86 

TRANSLATED VERSES $7 

The Luther Jubilee — 1883. From the German .... 89 

Luther. From the Danish 91 

Luther Translating the Bible. From the German ... 93 

On Luther's Death. From the Latin 94 

Germany's Prophet and Apostle. From the German . . 95 

Luther at Worms. From the German 97 

The Ten Commandments. From the German 99 

Proverbial Thoughts. From the German 101 

Luther's Heroic Hymn. From the German 102 



ME10IMI MMSII1S' 




DR. MARTIN LUTHER'S 400TH BIRTH-YEAR. 

With tongue and bell and trumpet-clang, 

Call forth from sea to sea, 
As when of old the welcome rang 

That hailed the Jubilee. 

Let every soul that breathes and sings 

Join in harmonious chords 
To Him who reigns the King of kings — 

The holy Lord of lords. 

Send forth the joy through all the lands, 

That God in mercy woke 
The call, to rend His people's bands, 

And break His church's yoke. 

Give thanks ! the tyranny of men, 

A thousand years of growth, 
Deep, to the heart, was stricken when 

Our God redeemed His oath. 
(") 



12 LUTHER: 

In praises loud let all engage — 

For human instrument, 
Once, in the far-receding age, 

By God's great mercy sent. 

With open Word, with Truth proclaimed, 

With Gospel full and free, 
Through Christ, whose Name o'er all is named,- 

We hail this Jubilee. 

We hail it for the spreading light, 

At God's commanding voice 
Dispelling still the gloom of night 

Till all our world rejoice. 

The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost — 

One God — let all adore, 
As, joining with the heavenly host, 

We worship evermore ! 

(1883.) 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 13 



MARTIN LUTHER. 

IN FIVE SONNETS. 
Four-Hundredth Anniversary of his Birth, A. D. 1883. 

I. 
As thoughtful glance o'er History's page doth fall, 

How plain the footsteps of our God appear, 

Who, for each grand event He orders here, 
The agent of His choice doth fit and call ! 
His ways, how full of might and wisdom all, 

As shown in Moses' and in David's sphere, 

Beheld in Nehemiah's brave career, 
As witnessed in the service of a Paul ! 
Thus, too, when, in a later needy age, 

Gross darkness lowered o'er the holy Word 
And none the woes of nations might assuage, 

Then came one who a call divine had heard, 
Whom sons of error sought to crush in rage, 

But who the more his cause to God referred. 

(1883.) 



LUTHER. 



MARTIN LUTHER. 
II. 
A witness comes of Heaven's Eternal King, 

Most wonderfully led and kept, as when 

God saved His servant in the lions' den, 
And thence bade foes the living martyr bring : 
Fain like Elijah would he boldly fling 

Defiance in the face of titled men, 

Though gnashed upon by tyrants ten times ten, 
Could he but, stayed on God, of triumph sing. 
As once Hilkiah in degenerate days, 

Heav'n's law he bore from dark recess to shine- 
To light the people back to holy ways ; 

And though not of the olden prophet line, 
Hear him the mighty call of truth upraise — 

As new forerunner of the Lord Divine. 

(1883.) 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 



MARTIN LUTHER. 

III. 

We shrink amazed before the lightning blast ; 
How dread the force that rends the mountain rock ! 
And when upon us breaks the earthquake shock, 

The bravest turn with palsied hearts aghast : 

Yet have men witnessed potency more vast, 
When God hath those rebuked who dared to mock 
His will, and hath whole kingdoms caused to rock 

As on the ears of men His truth was cast. 

The means, how seemingly inadequate ! — 
The word proclaimed and echoed round and round, 

Man' s tongue the instrument — though small, how 
great ! 
The tones of Luther, with a might profound, 

All Europe startled, shaking church and state, 
And bidding life and hope o'er earth abound. 

(1883.) 



1 6 LUTHER 



MARTIN LUTHER. 
IV. 

The open Bible, God's own Holy Book, 

Now in our every hand, to hold and read, — 
Rejoice that we're from gross traditions freed, 

And from the yoke that God in mercy shook 

From off our fathers, bidding them to look 
To Christ alone, and not to human deed, 
From sin and death to peace and life to lead, 

Till nations round in saving hope partook. 

Lift up, lift up the voice of joyfulness — 

The voice of thanksgiving and gladdest praise, 

For all the gospel-mercies we possess ; 
Sincerest prayers let all hearts upraise, 

That with this best of blessings Heav'n may bless 
All living men, ev'n to the end of days ! 

(1883.) 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 17 



MARTIN LUTHER. 
V. 

Yes, build him a Memorial, if ye will, 

To note the work he, under God, began; 

With bronze and granite your majestic plan 
In this great Nation's Capital fulfill : 
Not that foul malice e'er his fame might kill, 

Or that, were statues reared by hand of man 

To crowd the space from Beersheba to Dan, 
He could be magnified by human skill. 
In this four-hundredth since his natal year, 

Let names and nations hand with heart unite 
A semblance of his manly form to rear ; 

Those of all coming ages to invite 
To hold Christ's own blest Gospel-truth more dear 

To spread o'er earth the reign of Liberty and 
Light. 

(1883.) 



18 LUTilEk 



LUTHER'S BIRTHDAY. 

(November 10, 1483.) 

A gloomy night of sin again 
Oppressed the minds and hearts of men, 
While those who sat in seats of might 
Put ill for good and wrong for right. 

False priest and king, with rising crown, 
The people pressed still lower down ; 
And though deep groans were heard, indeed, 
Yet few it seemed had heart to heed. 

But He who had in ancient days, 
In Egypt, marked th' oppressor's ways, 
Was still the same each sigh to hear, 
The same to watch the secret tear. 

His ear heard every closet-pray 'r, — 
Each breath in cell or mountain-air : 
These in due time His help secured, „ 
W T hen all His purpose was matured. 

Upon the day with joy we name 
The instrument of mercy came ; 
But, as had been the Master's lot, 
The people long still knew him not. 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 19 

Not near the courts of wealth and might 
Did Luther first behold the light ; 
Nor wreath around his brow or name 
Appeared, to indicate his fame. 

From hidden stratum of his race 
Was he to gain his destined place ; 
Just as must move earth's deepest bed 
To lift the tallest mountain head. 

And with him through Eternal night, 
The lowest people rose to light : 
And lo ! the heaving upward still, 
To liberty of heart and will. 

Long as this day shall shine abroad, 
Raise tongues of joy and thanks to God ; 
And tell our goodly heritage, 
From land to land, from age to age. 

(1859.) 



20 LUTHER 



LUTHER AND MADAM COTTA. 

Far, far away in the German land, 

In the years that long have sped, 
A boy in the streets of Eisenach 

Was singing to gain his bread. 

For a student boy, what thought the throng, 

As they passed in gilt array? 
The proud who had bread enough, and to spare, 

Oh, what for the boy cared they? 

With a heavy heart and weary tread, 
Through many rebuffs and spurns, 

Still impelled by want, he onward pressed, 
Singing and crying by turns. 

But the plaintive notes that many ears 

With cold indifference heard, 
In the heart of one of kindly mien 

A chord of sympathy stirred. 

As now, with deeper want and despair. 

Again on his weary round, 
Madam Cotta announced herself his friend, 

And with her a home he found. 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 21 

How oft the load on the heart of pray'r 

Is greatest ere borne away ! 
As night, 'tis said, is of deepest shade 

Just before the dawn of day. 

And oft we know not how great the deed, 

When soothing sorrows and cares; 
As those who strangers have entertained, 

Have angels kept unawares. 

How little, indeed, the lady dreamed 

That Martin Luther, the boy, 
Should be the Luther that half the world 

Soon named with trembling joy ! 

Mttle thought she, that, while the young heart 

She blessed with maternal delight, 
A fire she nursed, whose blaze o'er the world 

Should lift its banners of light. 

Often, when lending the timely aid 

To those on whose willing heart 
Has fallen the blessed Saviour's call, 

The word of life to impart, — 

We know not whom in that simple deed 

Our hands may help to befriend : 
Perchance none less than forth on their way 

The Boanerges to send, 



22 LUTHER: 

Yet were it enough, though naught beside 
The deed of our kindness styled, 

To still a sigh or to dry a tear 
For the lowliest man or child. 

Then let us here be ready to learn, 

From Ursula Cotta's deed, 
A lesson of Christian charity, 

To prompt as our hearts may need. 

Though simple the deed of kindness done 
By this Christian lady's hand, 

Let this, while charity's work is loved, 
As her memorial stand. 

Through all the ages of coming time, 
While men to the good refer, 

Far as the name of Luther shall sound 
Let this be spoken of her. 

(1858.) 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 23 



LUTHER ARRESTED BY THE LIGHTNING. 

( '505. ) 
As, when but late the glorious, living Head 
And Saviour of the Church had gone on high, 
He spake to him of Tarsus from the sky, 
Amid transcendent light, that struck with dread, 
To call him to a special work divine, 

Through which all lands and ages should be blest ; 
So, when gross darkness earth again opprest, 
And lies displaced the substance with the sign, 
When wicked hands defiled the ark of God, 
And deep corruption long had covered o'er 
The glory of the Church on every shore, 
The fires from laden clouds were flashed abroad, 
Signs of a heavenly call to him of Mansfeld birth, 
To rise a champion of the truth for all the earth, 

(1862.) 



24 LUTHER 



LUTHER ENTERS THE MONASTERY AT 
ERFURT. 

(July 17, 1505.) 

When Luther sought the monkish cell, 

The choice was not regarded new ; 
For legion was the name of those 

Who thus from active life withdrew : 
So common had the evil grown 

That little now was done or said, 
As youths and maids in multitudes 

Retired from life, as worse than dead. 

As, when the most obsure of men 

Are hidden in the silent earth, 
But few appear to note the change, 

And none record departed worth — 
So none would us have thought to tell 

This act of one yet little known, 
Had not the Lord in after days 

Through him a work of wonder shown. 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 25 

But this, then all unknown to men, 

Most clearly now to us appears 
A link in that great work of God 

Whose good shall flow o'er endless years. 
'Twas meet that he, of God ordained 

The rolling tide of ills to turn, 
Should also in its hidden course 

The depths of its corruption learn. 
(1860.) 



26 LUTHER: 



LUTHER FINDS THE BIBLE. 
In Erfurt's University, 

How much absorbed the studious youth, 
As God has led him first to see, 
Within that ancient library, 

The Holy Book of heavenly truth ! 

With wonder at the new found prize, 

He bends intently to behold ; 
And quick those joy-enkidled eyes 
Tell him that there a treasure lies, 

Worth more than all the wealth of gold. 

Oh, how that youth's full, earnest heart 
A book like this now longs to own, 

Fresh springs of joy for him to start, 

As it should constantly impart 

God's wisdom on its pages shown ! 

And He who rules the earth and sky 

Bends from His glorious throne to hear: 
The youthful Luther's heart-felt sigh, 
Breathed by the Spirit from on high, 
Poth not in vain reach Heaven's ear. 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 27 

Most wondrous things the Lord had planned, 

Though all unknown to human sense : 
The servant, led, as by the hand, 
Learned, step by step, to understand 
The leadings of Omnipotence. 

When from that sealed and hidden Book 

Was brushed the long-time dust and mould, 
As Luther drew it from the nook, 
Where other eyes had failed to look, 
His life was in a sign foretold. 

God's Holy Volume was indeed 
To Luther's eager hands conveyed, 

To own, to cherish, and to read, 

To be from lies and errors freed, 
Which had it ages long o'erlaid. 

His tongue and pen must needs engage 

For truth to labor and to fight, 
Until the Bible's holy page 
Is opened to each coming age, 

That every land may see its light. 

(1865.) 



28 LUTHER 



LUTHER ORDAINED. 

(May, 1507. ) 

Schooled in obscurity, 

And oft with sorrow pressed, 
God's servant comes at last, 

With trembling in his breast, 
To lay his hand upon 

The altar of the Lord, 
And there the holy vow 

To preach the truth, record. 

But in that service there 

A meaning is concealed, 
Which yet before the world 

In light must be revealed : 
The thing in secret done 

Shall be in public shown, 
And from the house-tops shall 

The word of life be sown. 



A SONG-TRiBVIE. 29 

The holy truth divine, 

So long beneath the shade 
That error in its march 

For centuries had made, 
Must now again arise 

In dignity and might, 
Till nations near and far 

Rejoice to hail its light. 

Now shall it soon appear, 

Set forth in light divine, 
That truly is restored 

The apostolic line : 
Instead of trifling things 

And fabled stories heard, 
The people now shall learn 

From God's unerring word. 
(1860.) 



36 LUTHER. 



LUTHER CALLED TO WITTENBERG 
UNIVERSITY. 

( '508. ) 

In mercy God had set the day 

The hand of tyranny to stay, 

And break dark error's fearful sway. 

From things the proud would fain despise 
He bade a glorious work arise, 
That still is marvelous in our eyes. 

His purposes, though all unknown, 
Excepting to Himself alone, 
Were step by step in mercy shown. 

'Twas no great capital of earth, 
Distinguished for its might and worth, 
Appointed for the Saviour's birth : — 

'Tis not a place where honor brings 
Its offerings to the feet of kings, 
From which the Reformation springs.. 

As Luther's steps now thither bend, 
Not even he dreams of the end 
To which his call will surely tend. 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 31 

There must his earnest heart and mind 
A growing sphere of action find, 
As Wisdom Infinite designed. 

There shall new bonds of friend and kin 
To him untold advantage win, 
For battle with the " man of sin." 

Henceforth, O Wittenberg, thy name, 
Since Luther to thy bosom came, 
Appears upon the scroll of fame. 

Thy school alone, with all its worth, 

And all its patronage of birth, 

Could ne'er have raised thee thus in earth. 

Whatever changes thou shalt see, 

In all the ages yet to be, 

Millions will turn their thoughts to thee. 

From all the world shall praises rise, 
For what has made thy children wise, 
And yet shall bless unnumbered eyes. 
(1860.) 



32 L UTHER 



LUTHER VISITS ROME. 
(»5'°0 

Not more distinctly to the eye 
Appears the sun that lights the sky, 
Than now each one may understand 
The force of God's directing hand 
In teaching Luther, line by line, 
To answer to the call divine. 

'Twas not enough that he discern 
The things that all beside might learn ; 
Or that in secret he descry 
Things hidden from the common eye ; 
His feet must e'en to Rome be led, 
The heights of papacy to tread. 

The place where he had longed to greet 

A purity for glory meet, 

Believed by millions far away 

Nearest of all to heaven lay, 

He now must learn, to tell abroad, 

Is distant from the truth of God. 



(1860.) 



A S0PG-7R1BUTE. 33 



ANNIVERSARY OF THE REFORMATION. 

(October 31, 1517.) 

How little thought that wondering crowd of men, 
At Wittenberg, on that auspicions morn 
From which we date the Reformation born, 

What meant the paper on the church-door then ! 

How little then dreamed haughty pope and king, 
While millions of their subjects wept and groaned, 
That He, who is for aye on high enthroned, 

Upon their heads would quick confusion bring ! 

How little, truly, even Luther knew 

To what great flame would rise the spark so dim, 
To what high mission God had chosen him, 

What Heaven, thro' him, for all the world would do ! 
But now, as to that day men backward turn, 
What room may all for joy and praise discern ! 

(1859.) 



34 LUTHER 



LUTHER BURNS THE POPE'S BULL OF 
EXCOMMUNICATION. 

( December 10, 1520. ) 

Without the gate of Wittenberg 

Behold the fiery sheet arise, 
To ashes quickly melting down 

The food a dauntless hand supplies. 

Contemplate there that manly form, 
With firm resolve upon his brow, 

Defying all the papal wrath 
Upon the paper burning now. 

In consciousness of truth and right, 
Behold him like a prophet stand, 

Confiding in the strength of God, 
And fearing not an earthly hand. 

The flame which from that pile arose 
Has been the symbol of a light, 

That higher still and higher glows, 
To put the shades of earth to flight. 

(1859.) 



A SOMG-TRIBUTE. 



LUTHER BEFORE THE DIET AT WORMS. 

(April .8, 1521.) 

Behold the great Reformer there 
Unmoved before the mighty stand, 

Such witness for the truth to bear 
Unknown in any age or land. 

There dignities of church and state 
With crowned and titled honors meet ; 

Whose movements millions ever wait, 
Whose mandates all with awe repeat. 

There, there, — although to him unknown 
Imperial courts and regal forms, 

He trembles not before the throne, 

Nor heeds a world of threatened storms. 

Are not on high the questions borne, 

" Shall truth be silenced on those lips? — 

Shall righteousness be doomed to mourn 
Beneath the shade of deep eclipse?" 

Shall man or angel dare to hope 

That mortal should not be dismayed ? — ■ 

That one successfully should cope 
With all the mightiness arrayed ? 



36 LUTHER: 

But, lo ! it is not flesh alone 

That breasts the rising tide of ill ; 

The cause is laid before His throne 
Who humbles princes at His will. 

The mighty pray'r of faith is heard, — 
The promised aid of God is given : 

Now Luther speaks the fearless word 
That startles earth and honors heaven ! 

(1860.) 



5 ONG- TRIE UTE. 3 7 



LUTHER CARRIED TO WARTBURG 
CASTLE. 

( May 4, 1521.) 

Now with safe-conduct still in hand, 
The man, whose fame has filled the land, 
With peaceful conscience homeward goes, 
Regardless of the baffled foes, 
Who, in the blindness of their pride, 
With human weakness had defied 
The truth of God, which onward still 
Forever works its Author's will. 

As now, the distance grows between 
Himself and all the pompous scene 
At Worms, where disappointment dread 
Came down upon each haughty head, 
Deep in the forest lone and drear 
See mounted men at once appear, 
Who seize and bear, without delay, 
The hero from his friends away. 



38 LUTHER: 

Oh ! who can tell us whither speeds 
This soldier-band on fleetest steeds? 
Shall he who stood for truth so late 
Now fall before the rising hate? 
Have men in malice pledged their names 
To give his body to the flames? 
Shall not that voice be heard again, 
To honor God — to humble men ? 

Behold — although that soldier-band, 
So rough in mien and rude of hand, 
From startled friends, with hurried flight, 
Sweeps onward e'en till fall of night — 
'Tis not an embassy of ill 
To execute a murd'rous will, 
In hope the Reformation-fire 
Were doomed with Luther to expire. 

Lo ! on a friendly mission sent, 
The troop of cavalry is bent — 
Until the deepest hours of night — 
Towards the Wartburg's castled height ; 
Where, by his prince's stern command, 
Secure from every foeman's hand, 
Must Luther for a time abide, 
Until the fiercest storm subside. 
(i860) 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 39 



LUTHER LEFT WARTBURG CASTLE. 

( March 3, 1522. ) 

Though hand to hand, in wrath and might, 
Was pledged against the truth and right, 

God's servant trembled not ; 
But leaned, unshaken, on the will 
Of Him who doth His word fulfil — 

Each tittle and each jot. 

He murmured not to turn aside, 

When God would him from danger hide 

Within the castled wall ; 
But when he felt called forth again, 
For truth's sake, face to face with men, 

Naught could his heart appal. 

A stronger fortress and defence 
He found in the omnipotence 

Of Him whose words abide ; 
And though ten thousand shafts were hurled, 
And wrathful tumult shook the world, 

Still truth must onward guide, 
(1860.) 



4o LUTHER. 



LUTHER'S MARRIAGE WITH CATHARINE 
VON BORA. 

(June 13, 1525. ) 

Within no grandly-vaulted pile 

Of springing dome and colonnade, 
Where glows the tesselated aisle 

With casement-tints of light and shade — 
Not where the throngs who congregate 

Are wont in reverence to bow, 
Did gathered friends in gladness wait 

While Luther sealed his bridal-vow. 

Though simple privacies, which screen 

Our dwellings from the common sight, 
Marked all the unpretending scene 

As passed that sacred nuptial-rite ; 
Yet, not more quickly, far and wide 

Are borne the tidings o'er the land, 
When royalty, with courtly pride, 

In matrimony clasps the hand. 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 41 

Another mighty stroke was laid 

Upon the banded pow'rs of ill; 
Another step of progress made 

In teaching Heav'n's unchanging will. 
The holy law is now restored, 

Which God in Eden first expressed, 
And which our great incarnate Lord 

At Cana with his presence blessed. 
(1860.) 



42 LUTHER: 



LUTHER PREPARING THE CATECHISM. 

To North and South, to East and West, 
The holy truth was borne abroad, 

O'er spreading vale and mountain-crest, 
As Luther preached the word of God. 

Still on, and onward, far and near, 

That truth went forth by day and night, 

Till kings and peoples quaked with fear, 
Or leaped with joy to hail the light. 

From winter's realm to summer's reign, 
From morning coast to evening shore, 

The herald's name, in wondering strain, 
Was spoken all the nations o'er. . 

A giant through Eternal might, 

He battled manfully and well ; 
Ne'er quailing in the thickest fight 

With banded hosts of earth and hell. 

How few would have expected then, 
That he could think of time or heart 

To turn him from the ways of men, 
And seek with little ones a part ! 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 43 

Awhile turned from the warring storm, 

He strove for lofty truth to find 
A garb of simple, easy form, 

To suit the tender infant mind. 

By lowly as by lofty deed, 

True to the Master-Shepherd's will, 

He gave untiring, earnest heed 
His holy calling to fulfil. 

His heart, with love divine aglow, 

Made now weak childhood's need his care; 

That those his Master, when below, 

Did bless, might still the blessing share. 

And well he knew that if on high 

Should rise the edifice of truth, 
The deep foundation-stones must lie 

In reach of childhood and of youth. 

(1862.) 



44 LUTHER: 



ON LUTHER'S GREAT HYMN, GOD A 
MIGHTY TOWER— 

" EIN' FESTE BURG 1ST UNSER GOTT. " 

( Written in 1529. ) 

Great soul-song ! welled up from the spirit's deep, 

In times that stoutest hearts severely tried, 

When wrathful powers of earth and hell defied 
The little band whom God had pledged to keep ; 
A song to cheer when men for Zion weep, 

For God's the Tow'r wherein His saints abide; 

A song of hope when pressed on every side, 
Since His all-seeing eye doth never sleep ; 
Great hymn of faith, called forth while yet was young 

The morning of the Reformation day, 
Caught up by those of kindred soul, and flung 

On every wind to regions far away, 
And still adown the rolling ages rung 

In peals of praise to Zion's Strength and Stay. 
(1872.) 



A SONG- TRIBUTE. 45 



LUTHER'S LAST SERMON AT WITTENBERG. 

( January 17, 1546. ) 

O Wittenberg, thou blest of God ! 

How little didst thou know, 
How soon thy dwellings and thy streets 

With wailing should overflow ! 

That voice, whose trumpet-tones so long 
Thy people's hearts had thrilled, — 

So long rolled forth for truth and God, — 
That voice must needs be stilled. 

That voice within thy sacred courts 

Its final note has rung : 
For death shall hold those lips, on which 

The multitudes have hung. 

O Wittenberg, thou highly blest ! 

How glad should we have been, 
To hear the words thy sons have heard 

And see the form they've seen ! 

The day his voice within thee ceased, 

We join, with thee, to name ; 
While yet his words to all the world 

Shall still the truth proclaim. 

(1859.) 



46 LUTHER, 



LUTHER AT MANSFELD. 

( -546, ) 
Man of God, thy years are closing, 

Soon will come their final day ; 
Soon will end thy time of labor, 

And thy tears be wiped away : 
Yet, though weary unto fainting, 

There is labor for thee still ; 
'Tis unto the last thy mission 

To advance thy Master's will. 

Thou whose hand has ne'er been idle, 

But has ever wrought for truth, 
Once again art seen to haste thee 

To the scenes that hailed thy youth ; 
There to give thy latest labor 

In the name of peace and right, 
Yielding good to those about thee, 

And reflecting heaven's light. 
(1860.) 



A SONG-TklBUTE. 47 



LUTHER'S DEATH. 

( February 18, 1546. ) 

The conflicts of that mighty heart 
With all the pains of earth are past : 

So long and well sustained its part, 
It enter into "rest" at last. 

So long in jeopardy of life, 

From foes whose malice could not cease, 
God brings His servant through the strife 

To breathe the parting-breath in peace. 

Though priestly and imperial hands 

Were pledged to strike the wrathful blow, 

Yet Luther passed, unhurt, their bands, 
While fear took hold of every foe. 

That was a charmed life indeed ; 

That, truly, was no common death: 
To him, while living, realms gave heed ; 

For him, when dying, hold their breath. 

'Twas fitting that, the labor borne — 
The burden and the heat of day — 

The servant, by his duties worn, 

Now pass from toils and tears away. 



4 8 LUTHER: 

'Twas fitting that the mighty word — 
Outborne on every wind abroad — 

When Luther's voice no more is heard 
Still prove itself the truth of God. 

And yet, though dead, he speaketh still, 
Though gone above, the truth we hear ; 

His words shall down the ages thrill 
Till time itself shall disappear. 
(1860.) 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 49 



LUTHER. 

With what great title shall we crown his name ? 

What golden mouth employ to speak his praise? 

What cloud-capt monumental structure raise, 
To bear from age to age his lustrous fame ? 

Not urgent these ! through all succeeding days 
The simple name of Luther shall inflame 

The hearts of countless millions of the earth, 

To speak in glowing words his fadeless worth : 
Though titles, tongues and towers lose their aim, 

Yet if God's word but sound beside the hearth, 
If mighty prayer may still be heard on high, 

If truth, and faith, and zeal shall tell the birth 
Of Gospel-day, 'neath all the circling sky, 
This name of God's tried witness cannot die ! 
(1857.) 



50 L UTHER . 



SEVENTH SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF THE 
REFORMATION. 

(,5,7-1867.) 

Just fifty years, told o'er the seventh time, 

Have slowly rolled their solemn rounds away, 
Since dawned the morn of that high epoch-day 
Whence light hath rayed to every land and clime: — 
That day when Luther, with resolve sublime, 
By life and strength Divine inspired and fed, 
Hurled shafts of bold defiance on the head 
Of papal tyranny, grown strong in crime: — 

Blest day, in which the church the watchword read, 
That bade her on to liberty advance, 

With purpose high, and feet of steady tread, 
And God's own smile upon the countenance, 
Till her success o'er earth's extreme expanse, 
Surpass the questioned stories of romance. 
(1867.) 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 51 



THE NEW PROTEST.* 

Well done ! ye faithful thousands, gathered where 
Long time agone the mighty Luther spoke 
His grand " Hier stehe Ich" which rent the yoke 
Of Papal rule, and charged the circling air 
W T ith echoes greeting still the pilgrims there; — 
Ye came the grace almighty to invoke, 
And break — as mid -day hush by thunder's broke — 
Upon his ear who fills Rome's pontiff-chair, 
A Protest, with the ring of that from Spires, 
To brave in holy scorn and backward beat 
His foul approach of cunning and deceit — 
Defying, thus, base arts as well as fires; 
And then without, round Luther's statue, voice and soul 
Unite, " Eiri feste Burg'' 1 in choral waves to roll. 

M869.) 

* Thirty thousand German Protestants assembled at Worms, 
on the 31st of May, 1869, for the purpose of framing a reply 
worthy of the country of Luther, to the presumptuous invitation 
issued by Pope Pio Nono, urging on all dissenters their return 
to the bosom of the Romish hierarchy. After the work of the 
assembly had been done nobly and well, the multitudes gathered 
round the great Luther-Monument, in the open square of the 
city, and lifted their united voices like the sound of many waters 
in singing Luther's celebrated hymn of faith in God, 
"Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott." 



52 LUTHER, 



THE WITTENBERG CELEBRATION. 

COMMEMORATING LUTHER.' S 40OTH BIRTH-YEAR. 

(Held September 13th, 1883.) 

Fifty thousand people were present from many distant countries, 

among them two thousand clergymen. Crown Prince 

Frederick William, son of the Emperor 

William I., placed a costly 

wreath on the Great 

Reformer's grave. 

Oh ! fitting that in surging bands 

The eager scores of thousands pressed, 
From North and South, from East and West, 

From all his land, from distant lands, 
The world-wide honors to attest. 

That where the God-sent hero wrought, 
The multitudes should come, was meet — 
Should throng the city's every street, 

Through sacred courts, where once he taught, 
In choral shouts their joy repeat. 

How meet that thus should many a land 
A part in high rejoicing take, 
Calling the far-off shores to wake — 

Aiding to roll a chorus grand, 

Whose echoes o'er the world shall break ! 



A SONG-TklBUTE. 53 

Yet must we own what faint essay 
The songs those masses upward swell, 
Of light and peace and hope to tell, 

That from the Reformation day 
Have burst as mighty miracle. 

No over-praise those thousands pay ; 

No condescension will they claim, 

That scion of imperial name 
A wreath of immortelles should lay 

O'er him of more than crowned fame. 
(September 77, 1883.) 



54 LUTHER: 



THE REFORMATION DAWN. 

(From the Author's " Ecclesiad." ) 

When bold Adventure's hand the sail unfurled 

Which rent the mist that veiled this western worjd, 

The King of Zion had but lately sent 

To Saxon home the chosen instrument, 

That should ere long with fearless heart proclaim 

The blessed word of Faith in Jesus' name, 

And bravely wrest away the errors vast 

By which the truth was hid for ages past : 

Thus while there sprang an earthly realm to view, 

The kingdom of the skies came forth anew. 

For centuries God's providence had here 

Kept in reserve this ample hemisphere, 

Whereon in after-times the Church, in truth, 

Less bound and burdened, should renew her youth. 

Scarce had been struck at Wittenberg the spark 
To spread the light where long it had been dark, 
When forth there flashed the Reformation flame, 
Waking to life the lands where'er it came; 
While base oppressors, both in Church and State, 
In terror gazed, and trembled for their fate. 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 55 

Well did the Lord sustain His chosen few, 
'Midst fierce oppression till a host they grew; 
Well did he strengthen and uphold the man 
Who stood through each fierce conflict in the van; 
And well, at Worms, nerve up with grace that heart, 
In hero-spirit to perform its part, 
As, with his brave " Hier stehe Ich" he rose 
The victor o'er the Gospel's banded foes. 

God's Book, now in the people's language set, 
Was scattered far, and with rejoicing met; 
And far abroad became the teaching known, 
That we are justified by Faith alone — 
A living Faith in Christ, which fruit must bring 
To honor Him whence life and peace do spring. 
From land to land passed on the joyful sound, 
And papal rule was stricken to the ground ; 
As nursing fathers Kings now forward came, 
And Queens as nursing mothers pledged their name. 
(1871.) 



56 LUTHER 



MAY I NOT BE A LUTHERAN ? 

What though I'm called a Lutheran? 

Shall I that honored name deny? — 
That name encompassed with the truth, 

And crowned with glory from on high? 

Who thinks that those who bear the name 
Must be from gospel truth enticed ? 

We may follow Luther just as far 
As Luther truly followed Christ. 

Not one of us calls Luther, Lord, 
Or rests his faith or hope on him; 

We were not baptized into his name, 
Nor serve we saints or seraphim. 

But if it be that those who hold 
The truth of God's inspired page, 

Restored to men from out the dark 
Recesses of a monstrous age — 

If such may rightly bear the name 
Of God's distinguished Instrument, 

Then let me be a Lutheran, 

With heart and hand, till life be spent. 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. $7 

The whole true Church of Christ I love, 
And pray that God would speed her on ; 

But ask me not to leave that house 
That looks upon me as a son. 

Her table bears a rich supply 

Provided for the mind and heart, 
And the employments she affords, 

Vigor of life and health impart. 

I love her hearthstones and her fires, 

I love her altars and her gates; 
Within her pale and 'neath her roof 

A constant joy for me awaits. s 

As round her temple walls I gaze, 

Thousands of cherished names appear — 

Mighty in faith, and word, and deed — 
By all the world to memory dear. 

9 

Her millions dwell in every clime, 

From Iceland's everlasting snow, 
Far down beneath the burning skies, 

Where India's golden waters flow. 

And here, upon these sunset shores, 
Her children by ten thousands dwell; 

And here all men shall yet give heed 

To the mighty things their tongues shall tell. 



58 LUTHER: 

Her faithful far abroad have gone, 
And raised the gospel -banner high ; 

In every clime, on every shore, 
The ashes of her loved ones lie. 

And high within. the realms of bliss 

Her countless hosts of saved now meet, 

Join with the blest in songs of praise, 
And cast their crown at Jesus' feet. 

Through all this countless million-mass — 
Successive centuries of thought — 

Yea, o'er all the breadths of Christendom, 
Has Luther's mighty spirit wrought. 

O for the faith of Luther's heart, 

That brought the things unseen to sight ! 

O for his hope, that to his view 

The future filled with heavenly light ! 

O for the grace in Luther's soul, 

That from its throne dark error hurled ! 

O for his mighty power of prayer, 

Which ' ' moved the arm that moves the world ! ' 

O for the zeal of Luther's life ! 

O for his gospel-trumpet tongue, 
To speed the truth like shafts of flame, 

As when from Luther's spirit flung ! 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 59 

Happy the day when all mankind 
Shall joy the will of Heav'n to trace, 

As this brave servant of our God 

Was moved beneath its wondrous grace. 

If we the spirit and the might 

Of faith and holiness may plead, 
Then are we truly Luthera7is, 

Yea — better far — Christians, indeed, 
(1854.) 



6o LUTtiEP. 



DAILY WORKING. 

' t Nulla dies sine versu. ' ' 

" Not a day without a verse " — 
This the motto brief and terse, 
Which the great Reformer drew, 
Hardest work to help him through; 
Great although the task should be, 
As a child might quickly see, — 
Even such laborious deed 
That shall give a race to read, 
Plainly in their language drest, 
God's own Book, all true and blest, — ■ 
As light strokes will, day by day, 
Wear the hugest mass away, 
Line by line must surely tend 
To a wise and worthy end. 

— Lutheran S. S. Herald. 
(1872.) 



umm 



v/ 1 V» & * 




The articles of this division of 

the book are mostly from the Author's " Hymns 

for the Seventh Semi-Centennial Jubilee of the Reformation, 

most of which were written for that occasion, 

and issued in Philadelphia, 

1867. 



REFORMATION HYMN. 

(Tune:- " E!n' feste Burg ist unser Gott." — Luther.) 

Oft as returns this festal day, 

O God ! the high and holy, 
To Thee we would our homage pay, 
Before Thee bowing lowly: 
To Thee would we raise 
Our hearts full of praise, 
Our God, Maker, King, 
Of life and light the spring, 
Our Rock and Refuge solely. 

To Thine unbounded love we owe 

The Gospel of salvation, 
Whose streams of grace and peace shall flow 
Through every land and nation : 
And when error dread 
Its death-shadow spread, 
Thy voice bade again 
The light to shine on men, 
As in a new creation. 

(63) 



64 LUTHER: 

Thou, in Thy might, from dreadful thrall 

Our fathers didst deliver, 
And bid Thy grace be free to all, 
A healing, cleansing river : 
Their children, we here 
With joy do appear, 
Before Thee, who art 
The strength of every heart, 
Of every good the Giver. 

As higher strains of praise we bring, 

From year to year, before Thee, 
May countless others join to sing 
Thy mercy's wondrous story : 
Let shore answer shore, 
Earth's wide surface o'er, 
With high-swelling praise, 
Until at last we raise 
The perfect song in glory. 

(1861.) 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 65 



DOXOLOGY. 

O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 

Blest name that none may sever, 
We join with all th' adoring host 
Thy praises to endeavor : 
Thou great Three-in-One, 
Thy pure will be done, 
On earth as above, 
Around Thy throne of love, 
For ever and for ever ! 



(1878.) 



66 LUTHER: 



PRAISE FOR THE REFORMATION. 

(Tune: Harwell, by Dr. Lowell Mason. 8's, 7's, &. 4. 

Children of the Reformation, 
Every tongue in chorus raise ; 

Like as o'er the fair creation 

Sons of God sang shouts of praise : 

Oh ! be thankful 
For the Reformation days. 

Let there be no tuneless voices, 

While we hail this Jubilee ; 
Heav'n again o'er earth rejoices, 

Shall our lips, then, silent be? 
Earth is waking 

Hymns responsive — shall not we ? 

Sing aloud of what your Saviour 
Hath of grace and glory wrought, 

To restore His gospel favor, 
By the wicked set at naught; 

Sound His praises, 
For the light from darkness brought. 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 67 

Tell in praise the blessed story 
That the Church is spoken free, 

And unsealed the Book of glory 
For each eye its truths to see ; 

Oh ! be joyful, 
In this year of Jubilee. 

To the God of your salvation 

Evermore let praises rise ; 
Every people, every nation, 
Bring the tuneful sacrifice : 

Give Him glory 
Who doth reign above the skies. 
(1867.) 



68 • L UTHER : 



QUATRE-CENTENARY HYMN. 

FIRST PART. 

(Tune: Oid Hundred. Luther.) 

Lord, our God, our fathers' God, 
The true, the holy and the high, 

We hymn, from all the lands abroad, 
Thy praise and glory to the sky. 

Our souls with kindred souls engage 
To swell united praise to Thee, 

For all our goodly heritage, 
In this our year of Jubilee. 

We bless Thee that, when errors dread 
Thy Church oppressed and blinded men, 

Thou didst restore, as from the dead, 
Thy living Gospel truth again. 

We thank Thee for those sons of faith — 
Those heav'n-anointed men of might, — 

Who stood like prophets to the death, 
To spread the Reformation's light. 

We give Thee praise, that by their hand 
Thou didst Thy hidden Book exhume, 

To liberate each darkened land 

From worse than old Egyptian gloom. 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 69 

We glorify Thy holy name, 

That, down through all succeeding time, 
Thy truth, like ever-spreading flame, 

Has cast its light to every clime. 

SECOND PART. 

God of our fathers, fire each soul 

With their pure faith and living zeal ; 

With truth, our lives, like theirs control, 
And on our hearts Thy image seal. 

Make us, the children, love Thy will, 

As did the fathers in the past, 
And like them, midst each trying ill, 

To hold our true profession fast. 

Give grace, that all this festal year 

Witness our deepest gratitude, 
Expressed in words and deeds sincere 

For praise Divine and human good. 

O let the Gospel's hopeful sound, 

Revived in Reformation days, 
Give joy o'er all the world around, 

And every generation raise. 

May myriads thus to glory rise, 

From earth, and sin, and death set free, 
To join the chorus of the skies, 
In everlasting Jubilee. 
(1867.) 



70 LUTHER: 



THE YEAR OF JUBILEE. 

Tune : Lenox, by Edson. 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8. 

Wake, all ye people round, 

In joyful wonder stand; 
Come let your songs resound 

Like trumpets through the land ; 
O'er heights and plains, from sea to sea, 
Proclaim our year of Jubilee. 

Give glory to our God, 

That now His word's unbound ; 
That far o'er earth abroad 

Is heard the Gospel sound ; 
That we are now in conscience free, 
And hail with joy this Jubilee. 

Rejoice that life and light 

Again the Church pervade; 
That in her Lord's pure sight 

She stands with grace arrayed : 
And let all hearts and tongues agree 
To sound abroad our Jubilee. 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 



A CALL TO PRAISE. 

(Tune: Luther, by Thomas Hastings, Mus. Doc.) 

Come join to bless the Lord ! 

Oh, let us sound our lays ! 
Each lip be like a tuneful chord 

Within the harp of praise. 

Join our blest Jubilee, 

All lands and peoples round, 
Till, like the billows of the sea, 

The rolling praise resound. 

The Lord in Zion dwells, 

Her gates are His delight^ 
The Reformation glory tells 

How precious in his sight. 

His people's chains he broke, 
When sounding forth His voice ; 

With might destroyed th' oppressors yoke, 
And bade the church rejoice. 

And ever by the way 

His love has been her light ; 
His pillar's been her guide by day 

And her defence by night. • 



72 L VTHER ; 

Oh ! let us like a flood 

Roll praises to the skies, 
And hold what martyrs sealed with blood, 

Till we to glory rise. 

Doxology. 

Unto the Lord our God, 

The holy One in three, — 
The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, — 

Eternal praise shall be. 

(1867.) 



A SONG-TRIBLTE. 73 



REJOICING OF THE CHILDREN. 

(Tune: Rapture, by Harwood.) 

Let all the children's voices wake, 
And forth in joyful volume break, 

O'er all the land and sea ; 
With all our elders to prolong 
A fervent Reformation song, 

In joyful Jubilee. 

O Lord, whose hand, from error's night, 
Led Luther forth into the light, 

Our praise we swell to Thee; 
For we, the children, by Thy grace, 
Find in Thy Church a blessed place, 

In this great Jubilee. 

Thou leddest, by Thine own right hand, 
Our fathers, in a distant land, 

Beyond the rolling sea ; 
And we, in this our gracious day, 
When centuries have rolled away, 

Sound forth our Jubilee. 



74 L VTH&R : 

We praise Thee that, to be our guide, 
The Bible now is open wide — 

To every learner free ; 
That we are taught the gospel rule, 
In home, in church, and in the school ; 

Blest cause for Jubilee. 

Let none on whom Thy light has come, 
In any nation, now be dumb, 

But lift their souls to Thee : 
One rolling song of praise prolong, 
Stir all the arching sky with song, 

In glorious Jubilee ! 
(1867.) 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 75 



THE REFORMATION AND AMERICA. 

(Tune : Missionary Hymn, by Dr. Lowell Mason. ) 

The gospel of salvation — 

To purity restored, 
When came the Reformation 

In power from the Lord — 
Did o'er the mighty ocean 

To this our land advance, 
To kindle pure devotion 

O'er all our wide expanse. 

To all these western regions, 

Our fathers hither came — 
The Gospel-lighted legions — 

In their Redeemer's name ; 
Oft fresh from persecution, 

To find a refuge dear, 
. And plant the institution 

Of pure religion here. 



76 LUTHER. 



Here sing we now a nation 

With glorious might arrayed, 
The rock of whose foundation 

In holy fear was laid ; 
And still to every valley, 

And every mountain height, 
From every land they rally 

For liberty and right. 

Here, Saviour, to Thy glory, 

Ten thousand temples stand, 
Whose presence tells the story 

Of Thy redeeming hand : 
Here let each generation 

That time shall yet behold, 
Rejoice in Thy salvation, 

With praises manifold ! 



(1867.) 



A SONG- TRIBUTE. 77 



OUR JUBILEE. 

(Tune: America, by Handel.) 

In this our Jubilee, 
God of our fathers, Thee 

Our songs we raise; 
To Thee, our God and King, 
With joy we join to sing 
Our grateful offering 

Of highest praise. 

From deepest shades of night 
Thy word spake forth the light, 

And bondage broke ; 
The chains of error fell, 
Thwarted the schemes of hell, 
Renounced each fiendish spell, 

And. Satan's yoke. 



78 LUTHER 



Make us their children true 
Who stood the conflict through, 
By truth controlled; 

The faith their hearts confessed, 

» 

The hope their lips expressed, 
All that their lives attest, 
Help us to hold. 

Thy name we bless, O Lord, 
With millions in accord, 

For Gospel peace; 
Our Jubilee we sound, 
From land to land around, 
That glorious praise redound, 

And never cease. 

DOXOLOGY. 

Our fathers' God, to Thee — 
The blessed One in three, 

And three in one — 
To Thee, as in the past, 
And in the present vast, 
And shall be to the last, 

Be glory done. 



(1867.) 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 79 



GOD'S HAND IN THE REFORMATION. 

(Tune ; Webb, by.G. T. Webb.) 

Come, lift your hearts in blessing, 

In this glad festal year ; 
All praise to Him addressing 

Who doth His people hear; 
'Tis He His saints rely on, 

Their only strength and stay, — 
The glorious King of Zion, 

Whose reign endures for aye. 

His hand His church delivered 

From papal rule and wrath, 
And kingly bands He shivered 

W T ith terror from her path : 
Though hosts of hostile strangers 

Around her sorely pressed, 
He led her through the dangers 

Towards the land of rest. 



80 LUTHER: 

He filled her mouth with praises, 

For truth restored again, 
Through which His grace upraises 

All tribes and tongues of men : 
And now to every nation 

He's opened her a door, 
And bids her bear salvation 

The world's wide surface o'er. 
(1867.) 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 



THE BIBLE IS FOUND. 

The Bible's found ! the Bible's found ! — 
The word of God, which men had bound ; 
The Holy Book, in mercy given, 
To guide us in the way to heaven. 

The Bible's found ! the Bible's found !— 
Soon did the truth afar resound ; 
And quickly, by the holy word, 
The nations to their depths were stirred. 

The Bible's found ! the Bible's found !— 
How should we shout the tidings round, 
Were this dear treasure once again, 
If hidden, now restored to men ! 

' The Bible's found ! the Bible's found !— 
The joy to all the world abound ! 
Forever let the strain be sung, 
By aged and by youthful tongue ! 
(1859.) 



82 LUTHER: 



THE CHURCH RESTORED AND 
PRESERVED. 

(Tune : Luther's Hymn, by Dr. Luther, from Dr. F. Layriz's 
Collection.) 

Almighty God, we come to Thee, 

Who art the ever-living, 
To render, in humility, 

Our praises and thanksgiving : 
We join with millions of our race 
To magnify Thy matchless grace, 

Thou great Jehovah- Saviour. 

To Thee belongs immortal praise, 
Redeemer high and glorious, 

That in the Reformation days 
Thy faith was proved victorious; 

That error in confusion fell 

Before Thy truth's firm citadel — 
Built on the Rock eternal. 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. S3 

O ! glorified, ascended Lord, 

Who Thy believing savest, 
Thy love Thou didst with blood record, 

Which once for them Thou gavest ; 
Though earth and hell Thy Church assail, 
No might against her shall prevail, 

For Thou art her protection. 

And as Thy hand our fathers led 
Through hosts of wrath and error, 

While all Thy foes were seized with dread, 
And humbled in their terror ; 

So shall Thy grace Thy saints sustain, 

And bid Thy holy Church remain 
Thy praise, O Lord, forever. 



(1867.) 



LUTHER 



JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH RESTORED. 

(Tune: Iosco, by John Huss. ) 

Awake, with loudly-pealing bell, 

In God's own courts His praise to swell ; 

With all his people let us bless 

The Lord, our Strength and Righteousness. 

As angels wake the glorious morn, 
With choral shouts, when Christ was born, 
So let us ring our joyful strain 
For Gospel truth restored again. 

Rejoice, that now afar 'tis known 
We're justified by faith alone, 
That here's the doctrine, dear to all, 
By which the Church must stand or fall. 

This truth apostles, in their day, 
Proclaimed as unto life the way ; 
And that our faith in Christ's the root 
Which bears good works as Christian fruit. 

For this, the great reformer-band, 
By grace Divine, stood hand to hand — 
Firm for the truth and holy things, 
Before the face of hostile kings. 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 85 

Our fathers, for the Gospel's sake, 
With martyr-faith met sword and stake; 
And to our hearts, eternally, 
Their faith and hope most dear shall be. 

Again let praise, with heart and tongue, 
To God in joyful strains be rung, 
And every land respond again, 
In world-wide Jubilee. Amen. 

(1867.) 



S6 LUTHER: 



"WORK ON EARTH, AND REST IN HEAVEN. ' ' 

(Luther's Motto.) 

Thou immortal child of man, 
God to thee a work hath given ; 

Haste ! this life is but a span : 

Work on earth, and rest in heaven ! 

Fight* the fight of Christian faith; 

Strive as all the good have striven, 
Faithful proving unto death : 

Work on earth, and rest in heaven ! 

Labor not for self alone ; 

Give to all as thee is given ; 
Freely let thy love be shown : 

Work on earth, and rest in heaven ! 

Work thou for thy blessed Lord, 
Love-constrained, but never driven ; 

Strength and life to Him accord : 
Work on earth, and rest in heaven ! 

That example high survey, 

Which thy Saviour thee hath given — 
Toiling till the close of day : 

Work on earth, and rest in heaven ! 
(1869.) 



f SfiWttlD IBIS- 




LUTHER'S SEAL. 
A black cross lay on a heart of the natural color ; this rested on a white 
rose ; this rose was set on a sky-colored groimd or field ; and the last was 
enclosed in a golden ring. The whole was emblematic of the Christian's 
faith and hope. Luther's own explanation of it is very beautiful. 




THE LUTHER JUBILEE— 1883. 

(In form of " Ein' feste Burg,") 

Fro?n the German. 
Ye people of the Faith, ring praise 

To God, who us hath given 
His holy Word, through all our days 
A pledge to life and heaven ; 
And that shall ours remain 
In pleasure and in pain, 
Our souls, by day and night, 
To give true freedom's might, 
Though all the world should tremble. 

Lift ye to God the thankful song 

For constant preservation, — 
Who's kept through years — four hundred long- 
His word of revelation, 

Which for us conquest gained, 
And Satan's wrath restrained, 
When Luther's faithfulness 
All men thereby would bless 
With hope of life eternal. 
(89) 



90 LUTHER: 

Now cast on the Reformer's grave — 

Ye, by his faith pervaded, 
For what he us through valor gave — 
A crown that love hath braided. 
Your hearts for conflict gird, 
Like him, for God's blest Word ; 
Till, reached the high reward • 
Before your glorious Lord, 
You stand as gospel-victors. 

[Translated, 1883.] 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 9 1 



LUTHER. 

From the Danish of Nicolai F. S. Grundtvig. 

At Wittenberg, in Saxonland, 

A grave all eyes engages, 
Where rests a faithful man of God, 

Within the church, through ages ; 
Well known his earthly name, approved 
How he his God and Bible loved ; 
What name he now on high doth bear 
Shall angel voices chant us there, 

When we with them assemble. 

He brought to light God's long-sealed Book- 

The blessed Gospel-story ; 
And, searching, found it mirror forth 

God's wisdom and His glory: 
He to the people gave the Word, 
While braving ban and fire and sword ; 
Whate'er against the truth came forth 
Sank quickly, as by fire, to earth ; 

Naught like God's Word is mighty. 



92 LUTHER: 

Spite craft and force, spite ban and fire, 

The Word soon far was sounding ; 
To all in their own tongue it spoke, 

Up to the Northern bounding: 
It passed where Danube's fount's unsealed, 
Loud echoed from the Dovrefield ; 
From Harz to Hekla rang along, 
'Twas sweetly toned in holy song : 
Then living was delightful. 

At last went home the blessed man, 

To be with light invested ; 
How sorrowed Christians through the land, 

Their sighs and tears attested : 
And when that form to rest was laid, 
The high and low their honors paid ; 
And many a goodly knight and true 
Was seen with tears his shield bedew ; 

But in God's Word was comfort. 

(TR. 1873.) 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 93 



LUTHER TRANSLATING THE BIBLE. 

HIS DILIGENCE AND FAITHFULNESS. 

From the German of H. G. Kreuszler, in "Dr. M. Luther's Leben 
und Thaten in Poetischen Schilderungen." 

In learned circles, he — all eye, all ear — 

The noble Luther had for toil no fear ; 

He searched with ceaseless pains and diligence, 

Of every word to gain the inmost sense ; 

Nor would he in maturest years forego 

The aid that friendship e'er was ready to bestow. 

(TR. 1883.) 



94 LUTHER. 



ON LUTHER'S DEATH. 

FROM MELANCHTHON WRITTEN IN LATIN. 

Now Luther's head is rested — 
His who the Faith restored us — 

Who 'mid the storms was tested, 
As oaks a sign afford us. 

What on the Church could gather 
A sorrow so distressing ? 

What teacher will our Father 
Appoint us in His blessing? 

Now in the fiery contest 

That yet shall here impede us, 

Oh, who shall on to conquest 
Against the spoiler lead us ? 

Can tongue fit words e'er tell you 
For his great worth to borrow ? 

As moaning what befell you, 
I'm kin in orphan sorrow. 
(TR. 18830 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 95 



GERMANY'S PROPHET AND APOSTLE. 

A few passages freely rendered from the German, in a long Poem 
by Johann Walther, Cantor at Wittenberg. 

1564. 
I. 

THE REIGN OF ANTICHRIST. 

O Lord my God, I pray to Thee, 

Thy mercy do Thou lend me : 
Lord Jesus Christ, O hear Thou me, 

Thy Holy Spirit send me ! 
Give me to know, that with bold stand 

Thy pure Word I may honor, 
Which Thou didst grant our German land, 

That grace might rest upon her. 

O God, the time how sad and long, 

That error had been reigning, 
And Thy poor people, by deep wrong, 

To wretchedness constraining ! 
By teachings far from truth aside, 

Thy holy Word repressing, 
And by traditions multiplied, 

Thine own they've been distressing. 



96 LUTHER: 

II. 

THE OVERTHROW OF ERROR. 

Yet God, whose wrath could never rest, 

In mercy looked from heaven ; 
And of the love in Christ professed 

Shall proof again be given. 
The purpose in His counsel set 

The spoiler's reign to shiver, 
His might, Who never can forget, 

From malice would deliver. 

Thus God laid bare, through human hands, 

The tyranny appalling, — ■' 
So rent the evil through the lands, 

It totters to its falling. 
Abased in shame is now the crown, 

The fraud unveiled to vision, 
So that men look with loathing down 

And utter their derision. 

(TR. 1883.) 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 97 



LUTHER AT WORMS. 

From the German of Ernst Pfei Ischmidt, in the Memorial Volume 

of the Unveiling of the Luther-Monument at Worms, 

June, 1868. 

1521. 

A free man, by th' unfettered German Rhine, 

Once from the coach set foot to earth all fearless ; 
While clad with cloister-robe, in spirit peerless 

He stood lone combatant for Truth divine. 

With up-turned eye, with Gospel-sword in hand, 
Himself contemned, and bid'n to evil cower, 
He war declared 'gainst the colossal power 

That on the Church with godless foot would stand. 

How valorous then was that undaunted word : 

"Here stand I — nor can less — God help me! 

Amen." 
That hero-word, which startled priest and layman, 
Rolled hence in thunder-tones through those who 
heard. 

Like lightning-flash on human pile unpriced, 

That mighty word through German hearts went 

gleaming ; 
Th' illuming flames, to all the world outstreaming, 

Freedom assuring all who cling to Christ. 



98 L UTHER : 

1868. 
To-day, by the free Rhine this art-work see, 

Round which the peals of German song are break- 
ing; 
Thou victory-crowned, ten thousand tongues are 
waking 
Their festal strains in joyful jubilee. 

Thou Gospel-hero, midst a faithful band, 
' So boldly to thy conflict consecrated, 

That to the Truth all foes be subjugated, 
Dost these with light invest who round thee stand. 

Though still the raging foe, with onward plod, 
Thy name and deeds reproach without cessation, 
Thy work shall be pursued to consummation : 

Still peals, " A mighty fastness is our God ! " 

That hymn sounds martial-strains for Truth sublime ; 

That word was God's — once in this city spoken ; 

By naught of might shall e'er thy work be broken ; 
We send it forth to all the coming time. | 

(TR. 1883.) 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 99 



THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. 

From the German of Luther. 

These are the blest Commandments Ten, 
Which God delivered unto men, 
Through Moses, his own servant true, 
High up on Sinai's Mount of blue. 

I am thy God, the Lord alone ; 
No other gods before me own ; 
In me thy trust shall wholly be, 
Give all thy heart in love to me. 

Thou shalt not wickedly profane, 
Nor take thy Maker's name in vain ; 
And praise thou naught as good or right 
In which thy God doth not delight. 

The seventh day keep thou as blest, 
That thou and all thy house may rest ; 
Thou shalt from all thy labor stay, 
That God may work in thee his way. 

Give honor and obedience true, 
Thy father and thy mother due ; 
Give filial help with faithful hand, 
Then long thy days be in the land. 



LUTHER: 

Thy hand in murder take no part, 
In hate nor in revenge, thy heart ; 
Be patient and of gentle mood, 
And to thine enemy do good. 

The marriage vows keep ever pure, 
Thy heart no other thought endure ; 
In chasteness keep thy life from sin, 
With temperance and discipline. 

Thou shalt not steal nor goods nor gold, 
Nor aught that others earn or hold ; 
But shalt impart, with kindly hand, 
To bless the poor within the land. 

Do thou by witness false no wrong, 
Nor neighbor hurt with lying tongue ; 
His innocence defend from blame, 
And hide with charity his shame. 

Thy neighbor's wife covet thou not, 
Nor anything that is his lot ; 
But seek that his such good may be, 
As thine own heart desires for thee. 

God these Commandments gave to thee, 
That thou, O man, thy sins shouldst see; 
And there the lesson well perceive 
How man before his God must live. 



(TR. 1863.) 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 



PROVERBIAL THOUGHTS. 

From the German of Luther. 

If we did but the things we should, 
Then God would do the things we would. 

A blessed heaviness we share, 
When for our sins we sorrow bear. 

Whate'er our knowledge should not find, 
To know it we should have no mind. 

A lie is like the ball of snow ; 

The more we roll, the more 'twill grow. 

The best of music that will be, 
When lip and heart full well agree. 

Be quick to work, nor idle lie ; 
Cooked doves into the mouth ne'er fly. 

Though Christ permits us to sink down, 
He will not suffer His to drown. 

'Midst ills maintain a steadfast mood; 
Trust God ! and all will yet be good. 

A time for all things is in store ; 
God's love endures for evermore. 

(TR. 1871.) 



L UTHER , 



LUTHER'S HEROIC HYMN. 

CARMEN HEROICUM. 

" Eiri feste Burg ist Unser Gott." 

Called "The Hymn of the Reformation," "The National Hymn of 

Protestant Germany," and styled by Heine "The 

Marseillaise qf the Reformation." 

Written A. D. 1529. 

{A Revised Version.) 

A moveless Fastness is our God, 

A goodly ward and weapon ; 
He frees us from all ills abroad 
That us have now o'ertaken. 
The old fierce enemy, 
How earnest is he ! 
Great might and deep guile 
His dreadful arms awhile : 
On earth there is none like him. 

In strength of ours naught can be done, 

Our doom were soon effected; 
There strives for us the fitting One, 
Whom God Himself elected. 
His name now ask ye? 
Christ Jesus is He, 
The Lord Sabaoth, 
Who's very God in troth; 
The field he holds in triumph. 



A SONG-TRIBUTE. 103 

And though earth full of devils were, 

All eager to destroy us, 
Fear scarce should us the least deter, 
To us the end is joyous. 

This world's prince, so drear, 
In wrath may appear, 
No harm shall we know, 
He's judged to his o'erthrow; 
One little word can fell him. 

The Word to us they still must yield, 

And not a thank shall merit ; 
He's with us truly on the field, 
With gifts and by his spirit. 
Ev'n take they our life, 
Goods, name, child and wife, 
When all's torn away, 
Yet nothing gained have they; 
The Kingdom ours remaiheth. 
(Tk. 1883.) 





THE CASTLE CHURCH AT WITTENBERG. 

On the front door Luther nailed up the Ninety-five Theses, October 31st, 

1 51 7. Within this church, beneath the floor, was laid to rest the body of 

Luther, and by its side that of Melanchthon, in hope of the resurrection of 

the just. 



^-" 



Whitemarsh Pastorate, Pa. 

October, 1883. 



ERRATA. 

Page 19, stanza 3, line 1, after him place a comma. 
In same line, for ?ii?ht read might. 



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